Weird Wednesday

You can find some pretty weird signs while driving about Christchurch at the moment, saw this one while taking my Scowly ice skating last week! (To get the real 'joke' you will need to click on the photo to make it larger). :-)

And this one I spotted  a few days ago, I suspect there's a lot of it about at present.....

Tuesday Tipple

Todays tipple comes to you with a bit of skirting around the builders and my apologies for any dust that may be in your drink.

In fact, I think I'll keep it simple today. Here, after a beer....

Silent Sunday

above, after Sept 7.1 quake......

below, after Feb 6.3 quake....

Tuesday Tipple

So today, we're having a

Champagne Cobbler

3/4 ounce maraschino
3/4 ounce triple sec
2tsp lemon juice
1 peach half, diced
2 maraschino cherries
2 grapes
sparkling wine, or champers to top up

Fill the cocktail glass one-third full with crushed ice. Mix the maraschino, triple sec, and lemon juice together in the cocktail glass. Add the fruit to the glass, top up with sparkling wine, and serve with a spoon.

Now I admit, this drink takes a steady hand (something even I struggle with espeically recently), however it's worth it.

And now for something completely different, a spot of mischief for your enjoyment....

Monday Monday

I couldn't concentrate for a Silent Sunday, too much going on in my brain. We have a builder here now who has managed to weather-proof the walls that fell out during the 'quake, so long draft!! The lathe and plaster that fell and cracked still falls and cracks, mostly annoying in the kitchen. However, whats a bit of plaster dust between friends eh?

The drapery down the road created a fun photo opportunity for the reflections blog that I haven't joined yet but keep meaning to...

We had a 5.1 jolt last night that broke a lamp in my daughter's bedroom, and scared the crap out of us but we're ok really. Considering we've been living with earthquakes/aftershocks since 4 September 2010 you'd think we would be used to them. They're sneaky in the way they just happen without much warning, if we're outside we do get to hear the rumble first but often at night when we're indoors with Tvs and such going you don't get that spilt second warning.

On the brightside, haven't been able to return to work yet - our building is in the process of having it's fate decided after the one next to it collapsed into our stairwell.

Cheers, and I hope you've all got your emergency kits stocked and at the ready. You never know....

RIP Gretel

Poor wee Gretel, he didn't like earthquakes and the aftershocks have taken their toll. Last night he was looking a bit sad and this morning I noticed he hadn't eaten and was very listless. I carted him off to the Vet, but sadly they were unable to save him and Gretel died about 15 minutes afterwe got there. Apparently as a survival technique rabbits rarely show they are unwell until it is practically too late. I still feel terrible about it tho'.

We had a wee burial service for him and the girls have accepted that this can happen. 

Tomorrow will be another day.

Tuesday already?

Wandering down the stairs this morning, caught this sunrise glimpse through one of our few unbroken lead light windows. Such a pretty sight to greet me, before the wind whipped up some silt and dust (note to self, make sure the undies and sheets are well-shaken before use, it's the little things that make your day isn't it!)

Tequila Sunrise

1 and 1/2 ounces white tequila

Orange juice for topping up

1/2 slice orange

3/4 ounce Grenadine

Pour the Tequila and orange juice together into a highball glass (over ice). Float the slice of orange on top of the drink and pour the grenadine on top. Serve with a stirrer stick.

Silent Sunday

Random shots after the quake

Our hearts go out to those in Japan after the devastatiing earthquake and Tsunami - makes you wonder whats going on with those tectonic plates!

This wee daisy just managed to keep it's head above the liquefaction in our yard - in some places it was 6 inches deep. And very stinky.

 The forces of nature were so strong on 22 February 2011 that not only did they topple buildings, they also smashed up the cemeteries, here you can see several headstones that have come to grief.

One of the telephone providers has made all local and some international calls from phone boxes free. This guy looks to be settling in for a long chat...

And fearless Ernie takes a well deserved break from post-quake duties. He's chillaxin' in the one bit of yard that escaped too much silt and liquefaction.

We're still getting more than enouogh aftershocks, the house shakes when large trucks rumble past, but we had some help from the Victorian police a few days ago and they helped us shovel out debris and cart bricks to a waiting skip to be taken away so the place looks much tidier...well, sort of. Managed to get them to pose with our Police Box...(which has taken on a new life temporarily, might post about that later) in the meantime, keep safe, keep your loved ones in your hearts and send good vibes to Japan. xx



Silent Sunday

Silently the light stole through the holes in the walls,

unlike the noisy fireplace falling down

and taking the wall with it.

Whats happenin' dudes?

Sorry I haven't posted before now, been up to my armpits in liquefaction and debris. However, since we got water yesterday I have washed that shite right out of my hair and have time for a quick post before hitting the dusty straw that is my bed.

Firstly I want to thank yu all for your concern and comments, very heartening and I have missed you all very much.

To say that I was scared at 12.51pm on Tuesday 22 february 2011 would be an understatement. I thougth we had got used to the way of life that was a few shakes here and there, with the odd biggie...not so. And now I have the luxury of doing it all again, tomorrow it will be the 6 month 'anniversary' of ur 7.1 earthquake. I'm hoping Mother Nature will let it pass without comment. The 6.3 saw me having to clamber over things in my office, a colleague had to garpple with my door to open it and we shot thru like corks outta a champers bottle for the stairs, which were covered in dust and bricks which had falled into the stariwell from the neighbouring building. I picked a fine day to wear my new shoes with the F*** Me heels!! I have scapes and bruises all over my legs and arms from the trip oput of the building but I managed to get my camaera and take some photos in the minutes after it all before grabbing my car and heading home (along with half the city) as my two girls were at home alone - having a teacher only afternoon at the high school meant they had been let out of school at 12.15pm. They must have been terrified, but the Scowly One got her sister our of the house and they went to check on neighbours before waiting for one of us to some home from the relative safety of the front yard.

I'm really tired but will post a photo of what I first saw when I was brave enough to enter the house, I HAD to rescue the one remaining bottle of Deutz champers form my birthday....



The house is badly damaged but we will rebuild and we will get on with it. There is little point doing anything else! :-)